Vessel Traffic

Map courtesy of The Friends of the San Juans

The ecologically rich waters of the Salish Sea are among the busiest shipping routes in the world – and for this reason, the region has been identified as at highest risk of a major oil spill in Canada.

Currently, around 11,000 large vessels transit through the Salish Sea each year, bound for both US and Canadian ports. Giant oil tankers, container ships and bulk cargo carriers navigate tricky turns through Haro Strait, Boundary Pass and adjacent islands. All through these waters, naval vessels, cruise ships, fishing boats, pleasure craft and ferries compete for right-of-way with giant freighters and tankers.

Shipping traffic is set to grow dramatically in the next decade, in large part due to major fossil fuel export projects including Kinder Morgan’s proposed pipeline expansion and the Pacific Gateway coal terminal at Cherry Point in Washington, as well as the coal and container terminal expansion at Delta port.

Increased traffic means increased risk of an accident

One major recent study found that if all currently proposed projects are approved, vessel traffic will increase by 21%, accident frequency by 18%, and oil spill loss by 68%.

Accidents happen

Between 1999 and 2009, more than 1,200 vessel incidents were reported on the BC Coast, 12 involving oil tankers. From 1995-2008, 14 oil spills from tankers in Washington State released 13,709 gallons of oil. During the same period, 132 near-miss incidents also took place – had these resulted in worst case disasters, the amount of oil spilled would have been 2.7 billion gallons. Learn more.

Vessel traffic causes day-to-day problems

Even in the absence of any accidents. Chronic oil pollution – oil that leaks out in bilge water, through carelessness during fuelling, or via poorly maintained engines, for example – is as damaging to marine life as the potential harm that could be caused by a large oil spill. Marine birds are especially at risk, because the water repellent coating on their feathers can be ruined by just one drop of oil. Another ongoing concern is pollution from discharges of graywater, sewage, lubricating oil, engine coolants and other contaminants. Beyond the water, increased vessel traffic is also a significant contributor to air pollution.

Photo: Jill Hirschbold

Marine Mammals

Marine mammals are also threatened by increasing levels of large vessel traffic. Because killer whales rely on the sounds they produce for navigation and hunting for food, the underwater noise pollution caused by giant ship engines is a major concern. Increased traffic will cause more acoustic disturbance, and also increase the risk of accidental ship strikes of whales.

Waterfront Initiative

The Waterfront Initiative is a collaborative project that seeks to build a thriving and diverse shoreline that supports Vancouver's current and future needs of healthy ecosystems, recreation, access to nature, and a strong economy that benefits all citizens.

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We’re only here for a relatively short period of time in terms of ecosystem developments. As custodians, it’s our job to protect what we have and Georgia Strait Alliance is taking a strong leadership stand on regional issues and making that happen.